SKY Perfect Communications Inc.

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With approximately 300 channels, SKY Perfect Communications, otherwise known as SKY PerfecTV!, is currently the largest pay-per-view broadcasting platform in Japan. SKY PerfecTV! also broadcasts programs on behalf of other companies. Operating on such a a large scale requires adopting advanced IT solutions to support various services. In particular, SKY PerfecTV! wanted to enhance its broadcasting control system, which is critical to the company because it processes all the program data necessary for broadcasting.

However, the company faced several challenges with data storage and handling. The other broadcasting companies that SKY PerfecTV! worked with supplied content on video tapes. SKY PerfecTV! previously broadcast the videos directly from the tapes, which risked damage. In addition, SKY PerfecTV! had to prepare programs manually, at considerable effort and cost. Furthermore, any handling errors could directly affect broadcasting. As a result, the company decided to look for a reliable solution that would ensure secure storage and continuous availability of broadcasting content.

SKY PerfecTV! compared the storage systems of numerous companies when looking for a new broadcasting control system. The company chose the Sun StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System to anchor the digital video archive system. Separating tape capacities into long-clip-use and short-clip-use is a common feature of broadcasting systems. For example, reading one hour of image material in one minute is acceptable; reading 30 seconds of material in one minute is not. Thus, the company adopted the Sun StorageTek T9940B drive for long clips and the T9840C drive for short clips, for a total of 1.2 petabyte on 6,000 tapes. In addition to the tape drives, the digital archive infrastructure includes a Sun StorageTek Flexline FLX380 storage system used as a disk cache for Front Porch Digital Inc. DIVArchive software which streamlines access requests from the SL8500 library. The Front Porch software is housed on a Sun Fire V240 server running the Solaris 9 Operating System.

In addition to improving scalability, the new digital archiving solution also helps SKY PerfecTV! save floor space. The library system stores approximately 150,000 hours of images supplied by broadcasters, using a tenth of the space formerly occupied by video tapes. The new broadcasting control system is also more reliable than the one used before, and significantly improves data availability.

The storage archiving solution also improves manageability. Before, one operator could manage two channels; now, one operator can manage an impressive six channels. The company also reports smooth performance and few operational difficulties. As a result, SKY PerfecTV! can deliver more secure and reliable service to other broadcasters.

One factor that contributes to the smooth operation of the system is the design assistance, maintenance and other support provided by Sun, something that Mr. Shimizu holds in great esteem. “I am satisfied with Sun's technical prowess. The Sun consultants and engineers really do a lot for us. I feel that they are as good, if not better than Japanese broadcasting equipment manufacturers with lots of experience in broadcasting systems,” says Motoyoshi Shimizu, Manager, Broadcasting Technology Department, Technology and Development Headquarters, SKY Perfect Communications Inc.

Because SKY PerfecTV! offers multichannel broadcasting services, the importance of the digital archive system will undoubtedly continue to grow. Other broadcasters have similar needs as well. Thus, SKY PerfecTV!'s new broadcasting control system is a valuable model in the broadcasting industry.